Liquid cooling apparatus



Oct. 10, 1944. s b I 2,359,791

LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS Filed March 2', 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' ITm/enccn': Albert A. Ralston,

by w mw His Attorn ev.

Oct. 10, 1944. RALSTQN 2,359,791

LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 8.

In vencor. .Aibert A. Ral'stoh,

Patented Oct. 10, 1944 LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS Albert A. Ralston, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor n mpany, a corporation of General Electric Co New York Application March 2, 1943, Serial No. 477,721

8 Claims. (01. 62-141) My invention relates to liquid coolers and the like, and particularly to mechanically refrigerated drinking water coolers.

One type of liquid cooler frequently employed for cooling drinking water comprises a chamber or container for holding a body of water in heat exchange relation with a refrigerant evaporating unit of a mechanical refrigerating machine. Good heat exchange between the refrigerant evaporating unit and the body of water is necessary in order that the water may be cooled at a rate commensurate with the rate of use of the drinking water. High rates of cooling may be obtained by employing containers constructed of metal. However, there may be objections to the use of metal because of diiliculty in cleaning and liability to corrosion. More expensive metals such as stainless steel avoid someof these objections; however, a container constructed of ceramic ma-- terial such as vitreous china is very easily cleaned and may be made acid-proof. The difllculty encountered in the construction of a cooling unit including a ceramic chamber lies in obtaining adequate heat exchange between the refrigerant evaporating unit and the water in the container and in assembling the refrigerant evaporating unit on the container. Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a liquid cooler or the like including an improved liquid cooling unit constructed of ceramic material.

It is another object of my invention to provide a water cooler or the like having a ceramic cooling chamber and including an improved arrangement for securing a refrigerant evaporating unit to the chamber.

It is a further object of my invention to provide animproved method for constructing liquid coolers or' the like including cooling chambers of ceramic material.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize. my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a drinking water cooler embodying my invention; Fi 2 is a perspective view of a cooling unit shown in Fig. 1 with the cooling chamber and refrigerant evaporatingcoil separated for purposes of illustration; and Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of a portion of a water cooler illustrating another embodiment of my invention.

v in its position on the ceramic container.

' suitable bottle or reservoir Briefly, the water cooler shown in the drawings comprises a mechanical refrigerating machine arranged within a suitable casing and including a cooling unit comprising a refrigerant evaporating coil and a ceramic container for holding a body of water in heat exchange relation with the coil. The control for operating the refrigerating machine includes a thermal element arranged within a tube or well located in a recess formed in the container. The refrigerant evaporating coil is, wound around the container and holds the thermal well in position; at least two of the turns of the coil are soldered or otherwise suitably bonded to the thermal well and the tightly wound coil is thereby held secu iiellly e entire assembly is preferably dipped in a suitable bonding material such as an asphalt compound which protects the refrigerant tubing from l2. A refrigerating machine comprising a motorcompressor unit I3, a condenser 14, and a cooling unit I5 is supported on the posts H. The condenser l4 includes an outer ring l6 which is welded to the posts II, and an annular surge chamber or receiver I1 is provided between the compressor unit I3 and the condenser l4 and is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the posts II. The receiver also serves. as the mounting support for the motor-compressor unit l3. The cooling unit 15 comprises a ceramic container or chamber 20 about which is secured a refrigerant evaporating coil 2|. The operation of the refrigcrating machine to supply refrigerant to the, coil 2| is effected by a control 22 including a thermal 1 element 23 mounted in a tube or elongated thermal wall 24. The container 20 and the coil 2| are assembled within blocks of molded insulation 25 and 26; these blocks suitable straps 21. The cooling unit I5 is secured to the tops of the posts II by bars or straps 28 which pass through the insulating blocks 25 and- 28 and are bolted to the tops of the posts.

Water is supplied to the container 26 from a 2d, and a rubber gasket seat for the bottle and the bottle and the cas- 30 is provided to act as a to seal the space between being held together by ing In as well as the space between the casing and the container 20. An air vent (not shown). is provided in the gasket 30 to admit air to the container 20 so that water may be withdrawn therefrom through a drain connection 3| upon operation of a push button valve 32.

Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 2| from the condenser |4 through. a liquid line 35. The refrigerant expansion device is a capillary tube or restrictor 36 which is provided between the line 35 and the coil 2| 'to efiect the I described and claimed in a copending application Serial No. 470,814, filed December 31, 1942, in the names of Dean C. Rinehart and Albert A.'Ralston and assigned to the same assignee as the present application;

It is obviously desirable totform the ceramic container 20 in as simple a shape as .possible to avoid difiiculties which might be encountered in molding and in handling. Accordingly, the container 20, as shown in Fig. 2, cdmprises a cylindrical chamber having an upper portion 39 and a lower portion 40 of reduced cross-section. In order to provide good heat exchange between the water within the container 20 and, the refrigerant within the evaporator coil 2|, it is necessary that good contact be provided between. the coil and the container and that this contact be maintained throughout the life of the water cooler. container 20 by bonding at least the top and bottom turns of the coil to the thermal control tube 24, and a longitudinal recess 4| is formed in the container 20 to accommodate the tube 24. During the manufacture of the cooling unit IS,

the tube 24 is placed in the recess 4| and a length of tubing is soldered or otherwise suitably secured to one end of tube 24. Tube -24 is then clamped in any suitable manner to hold it within the recess 4| while the tubing is wound. about the container 20 to form the required number oi turns of the evaporator coil 2|. When the last turn has been completed, it is soldered or other-1 wise suitably bonded to the tube 24. The clamp.- ing is then removed and theentlre coil remains. securely in place. Furthermore, the tube 24 is The coil 2| is securely held about the respectively. Within the fitting 41 is a passage 48 connected by a tube 49 to a clean-out connection 50 which is normally closed. -'I-'he'fitting 41 is secured in position within the. bottom opening of the container by an annular threaded member or nut 5| threaded on to the body of the fitting 41 and arranged to compress a resilient gasket 52 of rubber or of other suitable material and seal the bottom opening against the pressure within the container. The upper fitting 46 is provided with an inlet duct or connection 53 bpenlng into the top of the container 45 and an outlet connection or conduit 54 extending to a point near the bottom of the container 45 and having an air vent 55 near the upper end thereof. The outlet 54 communicates with a drinking fountain bubbler 56 which is mounted on a china top 51. The china top rests on the open top of the casing Illa and a suitable resilient gasket 58 is provided betweenthe top 51 and the upper edge of the casing. Water from the city mains is supplied through a connection 60 and passes through an inlet coil or tube 6| in heat exchange relation with a drain pipe 62; the inlet coil 6| and pipe 62 being helically wound and arranged about the container 45 but spaced therefrom. The upper end of the coil 6| is connected with the inlet duct in the fitting .46. The fitting 46 is provided with an annular threaded member or nut 63' and a gasket 64 similar to those of the fitting 41; the fitting 46 thus seals the upper opening of the container 45 to prevent leakage of the water under pressure.

securely clamped between the turns of the coil 2| and the wall of the container along the recess 4|, and is, therefore, in heat exchange relation with the evaporator coil 2| as well as with the container 20. Since the. tube 24 is at a temperature determinedboth by therefrigerant evaporating coil 2| and the temperature of the water in the container 20, the thermal bulb 23 mounted therein is sensitive toa change in temperature. of either the refrigerant or the water.

After the coil 2| has been assembled on the container 20' the container and coil may be dipped in a suitable bonding material such as an asphalt compound loaded with silica to provide a coating which will protect the evaporator tubing from corrosionand which by filling the spaces between the turns of the coil 2| and container 20 will 4 decrease the resistance to the flow of heat from the evaporator tubing to the container.

In Fig. 3 I have shown my invention applied A suitable valve (not shown) is provided in the outlet connection 54 to control the discharge of water through the bubbler 56. When the valve is operated, water flows out of the bubbler 56 and an additional supply of water enters the container 45 through the fitting 46. A baflle plate 65 is rigidly secured to the fitting 46 as an integral part thereof and extends across the outlet end of the duct 53 so that water discharged from the duct 53 into the container 45 is distributed over the inner walls of the container which is cooled directly by the evaporator coil 2 la. Waste water flows from a catch basin 66 in the top 51 through a drain connection 61 and into the drain pipe 62. The cold waste water flowing through the drain pipe 62 is thus brought into heat exchange relation with the fresh water in the pipe 6| and precools the fresh water.

The coil 2| 1: is secured to the container 45 in the same manner as that in which the coil 2| is secured'to the container 20. A longitudinal recess 10 is provided in the container 45 and the thermal member or well 24a fits within the recess 10 and is employed to secure the evaporator coil 2|a to the container 45, the top and bottom turns of the coil being soldered to the tube 24a as. indicated at 1| and 12 respectively. The tube 241: is thus rigidly clamped between the container 45 and the coil 2|a; this assembly is then dipped in an asphalt compound to form a coatin which is indicated at 13. A suitable drain con.- nection 14 is provided for the drain pipe 62; and

perature responsive izing a cooling chamber constructed of ceramic material in a cooling apparatus employing a mechanical refrigerating machine.

While I have described my invention in connection with water coolers including mechanical rewall thereof, a cooling coil comprising a plurality of turns arranged about said container and over i said recess and having said turns extending transversely across said recess, a tube arranged within said recess in contact with said container and with a plurality of said turns, and means for securing at least two of said turns rigidly to said tube for retaining said coil tightly in position about said container.

5. A liquid cooler or the like comprising a container constructed of ceramic material, a coolin coil comprising a plurality of turns arranged about said container in direct heat exchange relai'rigerating machines, other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. ,I do not therefore desire my invention to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described and I intend in the accompanying claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A liquid cooler or the like comprising a container constructed of ceramic material, said con,-

tainer having a recess formed in a wall thereof, a cooling element arranged about said container in heat exchange relation therewith and extending over said recess, means including a temperature of said cooling element, said temperature responsive element being arranged in said recess and being held in direct heat exchange relation with said container and in direct heat exchange relation therewith, a tube of heat conducting material arranged in heat exchange relation with said container and said coil and extending trans- .versely of said turns, said coil being secured to said tube whereby said coil is maintained rigidly in position about said container, means inc lud-- ing a temperature responsive element for controlling the operation of said cooling element, said temperature responsive element being arranged within said tube, and a coating compound covering'said container and said coil for bonding said coil on said container.

6. A'liquid cooler or the like comprising a container constructed of ceramic material, said container having an opening in a wall thereof, a fittion with said cooling element whereby the tem- '35 perature of said temperature resptmsive element is determined jointly by the temperature of said tcgicling element and the temperature of said conner.

2. A liquid cooler or the like comprising a con- 40 a temperature responsive element for controlling the operation of said cooling element, said temelement being arranged within said tube.

3. A liquid cooler or like comprising a con-, Y tainer constructed of ceramic material, said container having a longitudinal recess formed in a wall thereof, a cooling coil comprising a plurality of turns arranged about said container and over said recess and having said turns extending transversely across said recess, an elongated metal member arranged within-said recess in contact with said container and with-a plurality of said turns, and means for securing at least two of said turns rigidly to said metal member for retain-.

liquid admitted ting for said opening having an inlet connec responsive element for controlling the operation 30 thereof, and a baiile on said inlet fitting adjacent the end of said inlet connection for dis- ,tributing about the inner walls of said container thereto through said inlet connection. v

7. The method of securing a coil of tubing about a container constructed of ceramic material which comprises clamping an elongated metal member to the ceramic container, bonding a length of tubing to. said member, winding said tubing about said container and over said member to provide the desired number of turns for the coil, and bonding the last turn of said tubing to said member to lock 'said tubing and said member on said container.

8. The methodof constructing a cooling unit or the like including a cooling chamber having walls of ceramic material, which comprise pro- "length of metaltubing to said member, winding" said tubing aboutsaid container, while holding said member clamped in said recess'to provide ing said .coil tightly in position aboutsaid con- 0o.

tainen.

4. A liquid cooler or the tainer constructed of cerami tainer having a longitudin about said container,

a plurality of turns of tubing about said container, holding said turns tightly wound about said container and bonding the last turn thereof to said member for locking said tubing in place ALBERT. A. RALSTON. 

